The sun was setting, marking the end of the day. The sky was clear, with a reddish-orange hue. A man with dark hair, styled in a business cut, sat working at his computer. The bright light from the screen illuminated his tired face. His watch read 6:58 PM.
"What a drag... I'm going to be late."
He stretched while still seated and let out a small sigh of relief, but then returned to his work, not noticing how the hours were passing and that he was now in an empty department. However, footsteps echoed, and at the same time, something was watching him.
"Hey, Johnny, working overtime again?"
The man's concentration was broken by another man, also in a black suit, white shirt, and tie, who stood in front of the other's workspace with a smile.
"Huh? It's just you, Albert."
"Come on, Johnny, everyone's waiting for you downstairs."
"I'm coming."
"Don't take too long." - Albert left, waving to Jonathan.
His brown eyes fixed on Albert, he watched him disappear down the corridor and then returned to trying to focus on his work.
Albert, how can you be so... but I guess I should go down soon... I really need a vacation, my shoulder is killing me. - Jonathan thought, as he turned off his computer and put his things in his briefcase.
At the building entrance:
"Albert, is Jon going to take long?"
"He should be coming down."
Finally, footsteps were heard coming down the stairs and at the same time the lights went out. However, the elevator opened with Jonathan coming out of it, in his suit and with his briefcase in hand. His eyes went to the entrance where other people in suits and briefcases were waiting for him.
"Come on, Jon, or we'll be late."
"Alright."
The sky was now covered by clouds, but the city lights continued to illuminate, like a small restaurant where a group of workers were drinking and eating, distracting their minds from work.
"Did you hear that the new girl is hitting on our boss?"
"Really?"
The new girl had only been there a month, but rumors were already spreading about her. Was it just rumors or was it true...?
"Johnny, Johnny?" - Albert nudged Jonathan to get his attention.
"Huh? What did you say?"
"I said are you going to answer?"
Finally, noticing his phone ringing in his pocket, he put it to his ear. As he answered, his friends stopped what they were doing when they saw Jonathan clearly in despair from the call, and before anyone could ask, he left a tip on the table and left quickly.
"Jon?"
"Johnny?"
"What's wrong with him?"
Santa Cristina Hospital (10:00 PM, October 2nd)
"Unfortunately, Mr. Jonathan, he has little time left if you want to talk to him while there's still time."
"Thank you."
Room 37 (10:05 PM, October 2nd)
"Dad, are you okay?" - Jonathan opened the door, with a forced smile.
Beep, Beep, an elderly man rested on the bed, his white hair loose on the pillows and his eyes closed. Finally, Jonathan was inside the room, pulling a chair closer to the man.
"Jon, you're joking, Cough, Cough." - The man coughed weakly.
"Dad!"
"Son, I have something to tell you before I die."
Beep, Beep, the man's arm was extended, with Jonathan holding his hand and his forced smile fading into a face of worry.
"You can talk, Dad."
"Listen to me, our family is cursed, Cough, Cough."
"What?" - That had caught Jonathan off guard.
"Nobody knows who she is, but she's a spirit that's passed down from one family member to another, Cough, Cough."
"Dad, this is no time for stories."
Beep, Beep, Beep, the room's lights began to flicker, at the same time as something seemed to be watching the two of them.
"It's not a story, I've kept her with me as long as I could, because she only goes to another after the death of the afflicted one, I'm sorry..."
"No! You'll be okay."
Beep, Beep, Beep, Biiiiiiiiiiiii.
Jonathan's House (11:30 PM, October 2nd)
The front door opened with Jonathan carrying his suit on his shoulder, his eyes were red and his face was drawn.
Why? Why the world? ... - he thought, as he simply dropped his briefcase anywhere.
He took off his shoes and went to the bathroom, not noticing the kitchen lights turning off by themselves.
Why did you take everything that mattered to me? Who did I fight for to fulfill your dreams...
The bathroom lights turned on with a trembling hand, the water from the faucet flowed into the drain as he continued to be lost in thought, filling his hands with water and washing his face.
... Abandoned dreams to raise your orphaned son. - he reflected, as he turned off the faucet.
His head was down and his body leaned against the sink, however, that scene was interrupted by the bathroom lights failing, noticing only then the low temperature he was in.
"Huh?"
Trying to solve the problem, he raised his head, but before he could raise it completely, he noticed in the corner of the mirror a small crystallization and when he looked at his own reflection, the light went out, even with that he turned the light back on, seeing two hands opening his eyes, with a distorted face of a young woman and a terrifying smile.
What is this? This thing is staring at me? - walking backwards in fear, he ended up slipping and hitting his head against the shower.